Reflections on My First Solo Exhibition: A Journey of Artistic Growth
It’s been a little over a week since my first solo textile art exhibition, Hues of Loss, opened and then finally closed it’s doors to visitors. The feeling was of happiness that I had managed to make the exhibition work, but also sadness that it was time to deinstall the work. When I first set out to have my first solo, I had no idea how big the task would be. I knew there were a lot of moving parts, but when you are also creating in the studio, the project can be daunting. I can say one thing though, it was definitely an experience filled with a whirlwind of emotions, personal growth, and immense support. As I sit down to write this blog post, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the countless individuals who played a role in making this textile art exhibition a resounding success.
The Strength of Presence: Engaging Art Lovers
The presence of art enthusiasts who supported the show brought it to life. From familiar faces to new ones, your presence made me feel recognized and valued. Each smile, chat, and connection reminded me of why I started this artistic path in the first place. It was an honor to share my crafts with you and observe personally the significant impact they made on your emotions and thoughts.
Art as a Catalyst for Feelings
Art has a special ability to reach into the depths of our souls, and seeing the breadth of feelings my artwork elicited in guests was both humbling and encouraging. From awe to peaceful contemplation, I witnessed firsthand how my pieces resonated with each individual in a unique way; I am very happy I made the decision to be at the gallery each day to witness this.
One particular visit moved me. I was immensely touched by Y who felt a personal connection with the coral art wall mural, Bleached. She looked at the installation up-close before taking a few steps back and spending more than 15 minutes, allowing the art piece to stimulate her senses. She said she felt an immense feeling of calm, yet also vulnerability when looking at the textile art piece. Engaging in sincere conversations, hearing all your interpretations, and discovering your personal connections to my art all brought levels of significance and complexity to the overall experience. Thank you so much!
The Artist’s Journey : Growth and Exploration
During the show, I couldn't help but be brought back to the endless hours I spent honing my skill as I walked through the exhibition. Each piece on exhibit seemed to be a testimonial to my artistic development and exploration. The exhibition was the culmination of years of constant experimenting and trying out new techniques (including Broderie Anglaise and shibori), pushing limits, and taking artistic risks. It was a chance for me to see my own improvement and recognize the transformative power of effort and desire.
Creating the Experience
There would be no show without the gallery space, and choosing the right space is crucial to the entire experience (of course this depends on your budget!). I am grateful for the support offered by aNERDgallery and the assistance and advice offered in terms of how I would design the space for the exhibition to refining the lighting that brought out the intricacies of each piece of my textile artwork. It was definitely a learning curve for me (and definitely quite a few points to improve on!) to ensure that every visitor had a unique and wonderful experience with my textile art pieces, not to mention understand the message behind the works.
Beyond Artistic Expression: Lessons Learned
Preparing for the exhibition taught me significant lessons that went far beyond artistic expression. Juggling various responsibilities to bring my idea to reality taught me the value of smart organization and time management. Wearing the hat of a project manager was key to bringing my team members together and having them on board for the project, as well as clearly defining their roles. I am forever grateful for Sam Shu Qin (co-founder of Our Singapore Reefs) for providing scientific input and support, as well as giving a talk about Singapore’s corals at the exhibition. Huge thanks also go to my technical consultant, Kai Kei Cheng, who was instrumental in bringing to life the textile coral art mural, Bleached, with LED lights and arduino.
Delegating work was something I had to do as I wanted to focus most of my time on creating the artwork itself!. A lot of roles were outsourced - this included photography, videography, copywriting etc. Having people to bounce ideas and brainstorm for solutions is useful too. One of the things that I found very important is to start your marketing at least 1 month in advance - the earlier the better.
Accepting the obstacles that came my way helped me to push my limits, overcome self-doubt, and evolve not only as an artist but also as a person. The exhibition transformed my life by teaching me perseverance, adaptation, and the benefits of stepping outside my comfort zone.
Perfection Does Not Exist
I decided to put this valuable learning point under a separate heading.
Embracing the reality that perfection does not exist was one of the most essential lessons I learned in the journey towards my first solo exhibition. With limited time and a desire to keep my creative energy flowing, I learned that striving for perfection in every detail would only lead to fatigue and stifle my progress. Instead, I concentrated on respecting the distinct path of each series I was working on. I was able to create pieces that reflected the spirit of my artistic vision by realizing that faults may be beautiful and allowing myself the freedom to explore and experiment. This lesson not only removed the pressure to meet an impossible level of perfection, but it also allowed me to devote time and focus to each series, resulting in a diverse and important body of work.
Looking Ahead
During the exhibition, quite a number of people asked me, “So, what’s next?”. It’s a question that has been on my mind for a while! While the show has fueled my desire to explore new areas, experiment with new mediums, and grow as an artist, I will definitely be taking the time to rest and recharge! This has been a long journey, yet it feels like the adventure has only just begun. I am grateful to have you alongside me as I continue to create and share my artistic pursuits. Do keep an eye out for more of my textile art works and experiences that I can't wait to share with you. And if you haven’t already, do sign up for my newsletter so that you can get first dibs on everything.
Although the exhibition is officially over, the pieces can still be viewed and are for purchase at aNERDgallery until the end of July 2023. Opening hours are Tues - Sat (12pm - 7pm).
This event is was organised by Agy in collaboration with Sam Shu Qin (Our Singapore Reefs) and Kai Kei Cheng (tech consultant). It was supported by National Arts Council Singapore and aNERDgallery. Material support was by Madeira Singapore and Muta.wear.